DOMINION'S PART.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1917, Page 5

DOMINION'S PART.

TREATMENT OF SOLDIERS. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. ALLEGATIONS DENIED Dunedin, May 21. Sir James Allen has forwarded a letter to the Mayor with regard to the complaints, which were voiced at the last meeting of the Patriotic Association., of the treatment of soldiers. The Minister emphatically denies that "the Government look for every possible loophole to avoid doing what they advertised they were willing to do." With regard to what was said about the inadequacy"of the mufti allowance, Mr. Allen said that a soldier on discharge, in addition to the mufti allowance, is entitled to have other items of clothing. With regard to the statement that men who had broken down in training in camp were turned out and told to find their own way, he asks to be given a specific instance. The difficulty the Government was made to face was to prevent the State ibeing loaded with charges whirfh wore not justifiable on account) of the men going into camp and not disclosing weaknesses. A soldier who broke down in camp was placed on the same •footing as far as his war pension was concerned as a soldier at the front. The Mayor had stated that many men had returned to find their positions filled and unable to earn a livelihood. He would be giad to receive instances. It had also been stated that the delay in giving the men their pay when it was due was a 'scandal. In this matter Sir James also asked to he supplied with opecific instances. The Mayor will reply, giving the "specific instances" brought under his notice.